Notable changes under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill
- accountonusbookkee
- Nov 3
- 5 min read
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act marks one of the most significant updates to the U.S. tax code in recent years, aiming to simplify tax filing and provide financial relief for working Americans. This legislation introduces several new provisions that affect how income is taxed, which deductions are available, and what credits taxpayers can claim. From eliminating taxes on certain forms of income to enhancing deductions for seniors and adjusting brackets for inflation, the bill seeks to make the tax system fairer and more reflective of today’s economic realities. In this post, we’ll break down the key income tax, credits, and deduction changes you need to know — and how they could impact your bottom line.
Standard Deduction: For tax year 2026, the standard deduction increases to $32,200 for married couples filing jointly. For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard deduction rises to $16,100 for tax year 2026, and for heads of households, the standard deduction will be $24,150.
(Additionally, for tax year 2025, the OBBB raises the standard deduction amount to $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard deduction for 2025 is $15,750, and for heads of households, the standard deduction is $23,625.)
Standard deduction | Single; Married Filing Separately | Married Filing Jointly; Surviving Spouses | Heads of Households |
TY 2025 under OBBB | $15,750 | $31,500 | $23,625 |
TY 2026 under OBBB | $16,100 | $32,200 | $24,150 |
Marginal Rates: For tax year 2026, the top tax rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $640,600 ($768,700 for married couples filing jointly). The other rates are:
35% for incomes over $256,225 ($512,450 for married couples filing jointly);
32% for incomes over $201,775 ($403,550 for married couples filing jointly);
24% for incomes over $105,700 ($211,400 for married couples filing jointly);
22% for incomes over $50,400 ($100,800 for married couples filing jointly);
12% for incomes over $12,400 ($24,800 for married couples filing jointly).
The lowest rate is 10% for incomes of single individuals with incomes of $12,400 or less ($24,800 for married couples filing jointly).
Alternative Minimum Tax Exemption Amounts: For tax year 2026, the exemption amount for unmarried individuals is $90,100 and begins to phase out at $500,000 ($140,200 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption begins to phase out at $1,000,000).
Estate Tax Credits: Estates of decedents who die during 2026 have a basic exclusion amount of $15,000,000, up from a total of $13,990,000 for estates of decedents who died in 2025.
Adoption Credits: The maximum credit allowed for adoptions for tax year 2026 is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $17,670, up from $17,280 for 2025. For tax year 2026, the amount of credit that may be refundable is $5,120.
Employer-Provided Childcare Tax Credit: For tax year 2026, the OBBB significantly enhances an important credit for employers; it increases the maximum amount of employer-provided childcare tax credit from $150,000 to $500,000 ($600,000 if the employer is an eligible small business).
New deduction: Effective for 2025 through 2028, individuals who are age 65 and older may claim an additional deduction of $6,000. This new deduction is in addition to the current additional standard deduction for seniors under existing law.
The $6,000 senior deduction is per eligible individual (or $12,000 total for a married couple where both spouses qualify).
Deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers).
Qualifying taxpayers: The taxpayer must attain age 65 on or before the last day of the taxable year.
Taxpayer eligibility: Deduction is available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers.
Taxpayers must:
Include the Social Security number of the qualifying individual(s) on the return
File jointly, if married, to claim the deduction
New deduction: Effective for 2025 through 2028, employees and self-employed individuals may deduct qualified tips received in occupations listed by the IRS as customarily and regularly receiving tips on or before December 31, 2024, and that are reported on a Form W-2, Form 1099, or other specified statement furnished to the individual or reported directly by the individual on Form 4137.
“Qualified tips” are voluntary cash or charged tips received from customers or through tip sharing
Maximum annual deduction is $25,000; for self-employed, deduction may not exceed individual’s net income (without regard to this deduction) from the trade or business in which the tips were earned.
Deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers)
Taxpayer eligibility: Deduction is available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers. Self-employed individuals in a Specified Service Trade or Business (SSTB) under section 199A are not eligible. Employees whose employer is in an SSTB also are not eligible. Taxpayers must:
Include their Social Security number on the return
File jointly if married, to claim the deduction
Reporting: Employers and other payors must file information returns with the IRS (or SSA) and furnish statements to taxpayers showing certain cash tips received and the occupation of the tip recipient.
New deduction: Effective for 2025 through 2028, individuals who receive qualified overtime compensation may deduct the pay that exceeds their regular rate of pay (such as the “half” portion of “time-and-a-half” compensation) that is required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and reported on a Form W-2, Form 1099, or other specified statement furnished to the individual.
Maximum annual deduction is $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers).
Deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers).
Taxpayer eligibility: Deduction is available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers.
Taxpayers must:
Include their Social Security number on the return and
File jointly if married, to claim the deduction.
Reporting: Employers and other payors are required to file information returns with the IRS (or SSA) and furnish statements to taxpayers showing the total amount of qualified overtime compensation paid during the year.
Guidance: The IRS will provide transition relief for tax year 2025 for taxpayers claiming the deduction and for employers and other payors subject to the new reporting requirements.
New deduction: Effective for 2025 through 2028, individuals may deduct interest paid on a loan used to purchase a qualified vehicle, provided the vehicle is purchased for personal use and meets other eligibility criteria. (Lease payments do not qualify.)
Maximum annual deduction is $10,000.
Deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $100,000 ($200,000 for joint filers).
Qualified interest: To qualify for the deduction, the interest must be paid on a loan that is:
Originated after December 31, 2024
Used to purchase a vehicle originally used by the taxpayer (used vehicles do not qualify)
For a personal use vehicle (not for business or commercial use)
Secured by a lien on the vehicle
If a qualifying vehicle loan is later refinanced, interest paid on the refinanced amount is generally eligible for the deduction.
Qualified vehicle: A qualified vehicle is a car, minivan, van, SUV, pick-up truck or motorcycle, with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds, and that has undergone final assembly in the United States.
To determine if a vehicle had final assembly in the U.S., check one of these:
The information label attached to the vehicle on a dealer's premises
The vehicle identification number (VIN)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) VIN Decoder
Taxpayer eligibility: Deduction is available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers. The taxpayer must include the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle on the tax return for any year when the deduction is claimed.
Reporting: Lenders or other recipients of qualified interest must file information returns with the IRS and furnish statements to taxpayers showing the total amount of interest received during the taxable year.
Guidance: The IRS will provide transition relief for tax year 2025 for interest recipients subject to the new reporting requirements.
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